Slowly warming temps tell us it’s time to start peeling off the layers, and there’s no better transitional tool than your go-to trench. With a ladylike silhouette and versatility that demands you own one in at least three colors, this timeless piece of outerwear is synonymous with spring. But how did it earn such a coveted reputation? Aside from its historical war experience (the coat was first worn in the 1820s in the military trenches – get it? Trench. Coat?), this garment’s popularity comes from its flattering bodywork: